Irradiating a Diamond

[Andelain]

I have a natural mined diamond that's a light brown color. I've decided I don't like the color and might like to try getting it irradiated HPHT'ed. What all is involved, and who might I contact? Has anyone here done this?

 

[Andelain]

Anyone know of a company that will irradiate it?

 

[artdecolover71]

my appraiser was talking about this, he is in Huntington, NY - Northeast Gem - very nice person. perhaps you can email him and ask.

 

[WinkHPD]

I have a natural mined diamond that's a light brown color. I've decided I don't like the color and might like to try getting it irradiated HPHT'ed. What all is involved, and who might I contact? Has anyone here done this?

Irradiating and HPHT treatment are two different processes. Irradiation is relatively inexpensive and results in colors such as blues, greens and yellows. With each diamond that I have had irradiated for clients the company was able to predict for me the color, but not guarantee it. In each case that was the color that we received. The color change was stunning and did not require repolishing of the diamond involved.

HPHT is potentially damaging to the diamond and in some cases you get back tiny pieces of the diamond you started with. If your diamond is the proper type of crystal you diamond can end up being a higher color grade of colorless than when you started. However, the process damages the outer layer of the diamond and will require repolishing the diamond as part of the finishing process of the treatment, so it is much more expensive than irradiating the diamond.

I have not yet sent a diamond in for HPHT treatment and I do not know the cost to do so. The few people I have talked with about it all decided not to risk their diamond, which seemed like a good choice to me.

It has been a few years since I have had a diamond irradiated, but your who ever your favorite vendor is should be able to help you with it as this is a service offered to the trade.

Have a great weekend.

Wink

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I might buy a diamond that had already had HPHT treatment, but I wouldn't take the risk on a diamond I owned. Why don't you just sell the light brown diamond, Ande? I think there might be buyers because some people like to set them in rose gold.

 

[momhappy]

I might buy a diamond that had already had HPHT treatment, but I wouldn't take the risk on a diamond I owned. Why don't you just sell the light brown diamond, Ande? I think there might be buyers because some people like to set them in rose gold.

Yes! Like me I love the thought of setting a brown diamond in rose gold, especially a bezel setting of some sort - it would be gorgeous.

 

[Andelain]

Thanks for the info, Wink. I already had to rule out HPHT because of the inclusion in the stone, which is a fracture. That leaves radiation, which I'm seriously considering.

I might buy a diamond that had already had HPHT treatment, but I wouldn't take the risk on a diamond I owned. Why don't you just sell the light brown diamond, Ande? I think there might be buyers because some people like to set them in rose gold.

I thought about that, but would want close to enough to replace it with a different stone. The replacement would have to be the same size, because of the way the ring is made.

Besides, it told it's story once, I can just imagine what it'd have to say about me if I took it out of it's home and sold it.

 

[GeorgeStevens]

There are some hideous irradiated stones out there - see the Kay Jewelers website for examples. Done poorly, the over-saturation and unnatural color give them away. Agree with other poster who suggested to consider buying a new stone that has already been HPHT treated, irradiated, annealed, clarity-enhanced, lab-created, or whatever treatment you prefer. New stones can work in old settings, and as the Ikea ad once said, "don't feel bad for this lamp. The new one is much better."